mdimport command in MacOS

The MacOS mdimport command is used to index and import metadata of files, making it easier to search for and organize files on your system. By using mdimport, you can improve the speed and efficiency of file searches, as well as access important metadata such as author, date created, and file type. This command is especially useful for users who work with a large number of files and need to quickly locate specific information.

mdimport Syntax:

mdimport [options] [parameters]

MacOS mdimport Options:

Option	Description
-d	Force the reindexing of the specified directory.
-l	List the importer plugins.
-r	Remove the metadata for the specified item.
-n	Do not update the metadata for the specified item.
-T	Test the import paths.
-g	Generate debug data.
-x	Do not include files and directories starting with ”.“.
-f	Follow symbolic links.
-Var	Print variables and their values.
-D	Output debugging information.

mdimport Parameters:

Parameter	Description
path	Specifies the file or directory for metadata import.
-h	Display help message.
-V	Show version information.
-M	Output information about the metadata store.
-p	Specify the indexing priority level.
-E	Erase and rebuild metadata database.
-d	Specify the database to use.
-t	Index the specified URL.
query	Perform a metadata query.
-s	Rescan the specified item to update metadata.
-u	Update all metadata information.
-L	Index the localized string.
-a	Automatically update metadata.
pathlist	Metadata import for files in the path list.
—	End of options. Use this if a file name begins with ”-” to ensure it’s not treated as an option.

Caution

Be cautious when using the mdimport command as it directly interacts with the macOS metadata system and can impact system performance if used incorrectly.

How to use mdimport command:

Index a specific file

mdimport /path/to/file.txt

This command is used to manually index a specific file.

Index all files in a directory

mdimport /path/to/directory

mdimport can be used to index all files in a specified directory.

Exclude a directory from indexing

mdimport -x /path/to/excluded_directory

With the -x flag, you can exclude a specific directory from being indexed by mdimport.

Force reindexing of a file

mdimport -f /path/to/file.pdf

Using the -f flag will force the reindexing of a specific file.

List all metadata attributes

mdimport -L

mdimport can be used with the -L flag to list all metadata attributes supported by Spotlight.

Index files with a specific content type

mdimport -c public.audio /path/to/music

You can use the -c flag to specify a content type when indexing files.

Index files with a specific MIME type

mdimport -m audio/mpeg /path/to/music

mdimport allows indexing files based on a specific MIME type with the -m flag.

Index files by content

mdimport -p /path/to/directory

The -p flag allows mdimport to index files based on their content.

Tip

When using the mdimport command in MacOS, remember to specify the necessary options and values to ensure the desired behavior for metadata import.

How can I check the version of mdimport in MacOS?

To check the version of mdimport in MacOS, use the following command:

mdimport -v

How do I import metadata for a specific file using mdimport?

To import metadata for a specific file with mdimport in MacOS, execute the following command:

mdimport /path/to/file

What is the purpose of the -d option in the mdimport command?

The -d option in the mdimport command in MacOS is used to specify a debug level for the import process. To use it, run the command with the desired debug level like this:

mdimport -d 2 /path/to/directory

How can I force mdimport to reimport all metadata in a directory?

To force mdimport to reimport all metadata in a directory in MacOS, you can use the following command:

mdimport -f /path/to/directory

How do I exclude specific directories from mdimport in MacOS?

To exclude specific directories from metadata import with mdimport in MacOS, you can use the -x option. Here is an example command:

mdimport -x /path/to/exclude/directory /path/to/directory

Can I schedule regular metadata imports with mdimport in MacOS?

Yes, you can schedule regular metadata imports using launchd and creating a plist file. Here is a basic example of a plist file configuration for scheduling metadata imports:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.example.mdimport</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
      <string>mdimport</string>
      <string>--option</string>
      <string>value</string>
    </array>
    <key>StartInterval</key>
    <integer>3600</integer>
  </dict>
</plist>

How can I display the list of supported metadata types for mdimport in MacOS?

To display the list of supported metadata types for mdimport in MacOS, you can use the following command:

mdimport -s

Applications of the mdimport command

1. Indexing files for Spotlight search
2. Extracting metadata from various file types
3. Updating metadata information for files
4. Improving search functionality on macOS
5. Integrating with third-party applications for metadata extraction